The Official Michigan Winter Thread

[turbospartan]

So you guys are saying I shouldn't bring home my gear (from CO) when I come back for Xmas later this week?

When are you all coming out to CO to ride? Things are looking better than when you guys first booked, Vail has been getting pounded for the last 4 straight days and is now getting even more (should have 2 more feet by Wednesday)

[sabatoa]

Originally Posted by turbospartan

So you guys are saying I shouldn't bring home my gear (from CO) when I come back for Xmas later this week?

When are you all coming out to CO to ride? Things are looking better than when you guys first booked, Vail has been getting pounded for the last 4 straight days and is now getting even more (should have 2 more feet by Wednesday)

We're going March 7th though the 11th.

As for your gear. Man, I dunno. How long will you be here?

[turbospartan]

Originally Posted by sabatoa

We're going March 7th though the 11th.

As for your gear. Man, I dunno. How long will you be here?

Haha the gear thing was a joke. You guys saying that there is no snow and the hills aren't even open, it'd be a waste of time / energy to get all my gear back there.

As for March, I assume you guys will still be active in this thread but I can keep giving you updates as to how things are going out here. Where are you guys headed? Already have lift tickets or not until you get out here?

[sabatoa]

Originally Posted by turbospartan

Haha the gear thing was a joke. You guys saying that there is no snow and the hills aren't even open, it'd be a waste of time / energy to get all my gear back there.

As for March, I assume you guys will still be active in this thread but I can keep giving you updates as to how things are going out here. Where are you guys headed? Already have lift tickets or not until you get out here?

David_Z is the guy coordinating it but from what I've gathered, we'll be going to Breck most of the days and either A-basin or Loveland on the day we're taking off to come back.

Lift tickets haven't been bought yet and neither has lodging. I'm sure we're all still going to be active here.

As for your gear, lol. yeah. If you were here through the new year and were itching to ride then maybe. That's why I asked how long.

[david_z]

yeah, I'm thinking Friday at Vail, Saturday/Sunday at Breck, and Monday at Loveland or A-basin since it's on the way back to the airport and we have a 645pm flight home that night.

AFAIK there is no way to get discounted lift tickets to any of the Vail properties, although we can maybe save a few bucks at A-basin on liftopia. If you know any secrets, feel free to PM me or Sabatoa

I gotta figure out our lodging situation, probably after the holidays I'll take care of that, but we're going to try to get a house in Breck.

[turbospartan]

Doesn't sound like too bad of a plan. Hitting Vail on the Friday will help with the crowds, but then you'll be fully immersed in the crowds at Breck on the weekend. Breck might be the busiest of all resorts in CO. Another option you could do if you wanted to spread things out, is to hit Keystone one of the days. Some people hate the place, but I actually enjoy it. Front is full of long, steep groomers (and if it does snow, they usually groom half and leave half powder). If you go to the Outback (3rd peak back) - you can find some great tree runs. Also could pay $5 and take a "cat ride" (or you can hike for free) and hit some of the bowl-like spots (and "the windows") for something a little more memorable.

As for lodging... vrbo is probably your best option. Are you guys renting a car? If so, other areas include Dillon / Silverthorne / Frisco. Even if you don't rent a car, there is a Summit Bus system that will take you to Breck / Keystone / A-basin for free.

Last day, A-basin or Love could be a good bet... If you guys are tired and want to get in a few runs but also relax and party a little... the beach at Abasin is pretty fun (if you have a rental car). Grab a case of beer beforehand, find a spot, and party.

[david_z]

yeah we're kinda figuring that avoiding crowds on Saturday is not gonna be a viable option, given peak season like that. So then it's a question of do you really want to drive a few hours to get a marginally less crowded resort, or is it easier to just stay here and suffer the crowds. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

VRBO is the way we plan on going, I'll check resort lodging options but with a large group (potentially 8-9 ppl) it's gonna be more cost effective and get better amenities to just rent a house for the week.

[chomps1211]

Hey Guys,

Found out I won the WiredSports Rome Garage Rocker X-Mas stoker!!! ...and to say the least, ...I'M STOKED!!!

Longest one they had was 159cm. It's a Flat-rocker board and since I've only been learning/riding my Arbor 163W Cambered deck, I was wondering if there's anything in particular I should "get a clue" about before I ride this board for the first time? (...not even sure if with a Rocker'd Board, If I should've gone with something shorter than 159?)

I presume it's going to feel a bit "squirrelly" by comparison? Looser in the straights kinda thing? The specs for the board say I should be in the fit range for the 159 @ 6ft. 225-50 lb. It's going to be a softer flexing board? right? How's it going to compare in the turns on our wonderful MI Hard Pack? (...read slab ice!)

I know some of you guy's, DaveZ, Leo, & some others I've read in our MI section ride a lot of different types of boards, and since this board would seem to be completely different than what I've been learning on, I was hoping you could give me a heads up or a Head start on anything important I should know b4 I slap it down on the snow!

Thanks!! (...ps. I also asked them to ship some Winter along with the board!!!)

[sabatoa]

Originally Posted by chomps1211

Hey Guys,

Found out I won the WiredSports Rome Garage Rocker X-Mas stoker!!! ...and to say the least, ...I'M STOKED!!!

Longest one they had was 159cm. It's a Flat-rocker board and since I've only been learning/riding my Arbor 163W Cambered deck, I was wondering if there's anything in particular I should "get a clue" about before I ride this board for the first time? (...not even sure if with a Rocker'd Board, If I should've gone with something shorter than 159?)

I presume it's going to feel a bit "squirrelly" by comparison? Looser in the straights kinda thing? The specs for the board say I should be in the fit range for the 159 @ 6ft. 225-50 lb. It's going to be a softer flexing board? right? How's it going to compare in the turns on our wonderful MI Hard Pack? (...read slab ice!)

I know some of you guy's, DaveZ, Leo, & some others I've read in our MI section ride a lot of different types of boards, and since this board would seem to be completely different than what I've been learning on, I was hoping you could give me a heads up or a Head start on anything important I should know b4 I slap it down on the snow!

Thanks!! (...ps. I also asked them to ship some Winter along with the board!!!)

Congrats! That's awesome man.

I went from positive camber to a hybrid, I've never ridden a rocker. Your take on it sounds correct.

[david_z]

Didn't ride the Garage but I'm pretty sure it's Rome's pricepoint park board (we did ride the Factory Rocker, which is their all-mountain budget board). The Factory was really a solid board given it's price. You're not gonna be wow'd by a laundry list of innovative tech, with the budget boards they keep 'em pretty simple to keep the price down, but if the Garage is like the Factory, it's gonna be at *least* serviceable for ya.

Yes, it's rocker, so yes it will be quite a bit looser than your cambered Arbor. At higher speeds it's definitely going to flap around it's just not going to be as damp, and it's not going to have the same edge bite as a cambered stick, either.

Don't try to ride it like you'd ride that Arbor or you're gonna have a bad time take the opportunity to work on different type of riding, I think the Garage would work well for getting in to butters & flat spins on the ground since it's gonna be pretty soft and loose.